Monthly Archives: April 2011

This past week President Obama announced his intent to run for re-election in the midst of budget battles going on in Washington. He also gave a speech on his 2012 budget, made immediately after that of the Paul Ryan Republican budget plan. In that presentation, he took on both their deficit plan but more importantly the Republican plan to dismantle Medicare and Medicaid and give more huge tax breaks to corporations and the rich. Those were simple targets and should appeal to anyone over the age of 50 or so who have a brain with a pulse. That should constitute a pretty good kickoff for his campaign.

But he has not supported those in the states dealing with collective bargaining as he said he would. He has not closed Gitmo or stopped the torturing going on with Private Manning. He has not reduced our war mongering everywhere and, in fact, started a new one in Libya. He has not reduced the rape and pillaging going on in our entire economy from Wall Street. He is simply watching gasoline/oil prices go through the ceiling due to Wall Street speculation. And he has not even begun to address the horrendous cancer of our income/wealth inequities. I have decided that I don’t know the answer to the question of “Who is Barack Obama?” But I DO know, he is not the person I supported strongly in 2008. After this article went to press, on April 22, an extraordinary post appeared on Facebook listing in great detail Obama’s record for the past two years. I highly recommend reading this.

So called “liberal” Democrats are even telling us that he was never really liberal; only Republicans believed that. And one thing that is really a burr up my butt is the apparent way he has treated Speaker Nancy Pelosi after the heroic acts she performed in supporting his legislation for two years. The evidence is that Obama has no loyalty to those who have helped him get where he is. These are all character issues for me.

In Washington, a popular expression is that “If you want a friend, get a dog.” But that has clearly transformed in the last few years (or more) to “If you want a friend, find a Corporatist (Corporate Fascist) and especially a billionaire.” That generally marks the merger of the corporations with the government. It’s now not only happening in Washington, but clearly also at the state level as we have described in blogs by Jill Dalton and myself at this site on the subject of facism.

President Obama made getting a dog a high priority after he was elected. But since the election in 2010, Obama has acted in all manners to move strongly to the “center” in his policies and actions. But the “center” now is “far right” of where it has been in decades. Right versus left in politics means an economic policy which favors capitalism over ANY government social policy. So extreme capitalism combined with government operations is pure fascism. Mussolini described it well in Europe in the 1920’s: “Fascism should more properly be called Corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power.”

Obama’s leadership style since he was “shellaced” in the 2010 election might be described best as that of the infamous Rodney King after he was thoroughly beaten in L.A. and was quoted as saying: “Can’t we all get along?”

Immediately after the election Obama went to Senator McConnell and Rep. John Boehner to make a “deal.” He abandoned his principles against tax cuts for the rich (saying he was held “hostage”) and gave a 2% payroll tax cuts in social security taxes without even a wimper. Obama claimed he was giving a tax cut while setting up the social security system for attack by the right wing since we were collecting less money in the system. It’s called a “Trojan Horse” folks. A POSTSCRIPT ADDED ON APRIL 18: “BARACK OBAMA IS NOW THE BIGGEST TAX CUTTER IN AMERICAN HISTORY”. In other words, he’s been practicing “voodoo, supply side, trickle down” economics even more than Bush or Reagan!

In February this year, Obama went to the Chamber of Commerce who had spent 10’s of millions of dollars against him in the election and apologized for not bringing them a fruit cake early in his administration. He also offered to sell the services and products of corporations overseas to every place he visited. He invited their representatives to key positions in the White House, including Bill Daley (Chief of Staff), Gene Sperling (Economic Advisor) and Jeffrey Immelt (CEO of GE) as “Jobs” advisor. These new staff people have intimate ties with Wall Street, the Chamber of Commerce and corporations. This comes after his strong commitment earlier to end White House lobbying and the revolving door.

It has been quite interesting to watch this theater and at the same time study charts of the “recovery” for the past two years. The chart at the right of the page shows job recovery from the depths of the recession. By historical standards job recovery is almost nil with few prospects for anything different in the next two years or more. In the meantime, the stock market and earnings by corporations are again approaching their highs at the beginning of the crash as this second chart shows. Putting the two charts together show that corporations have nearly completely recovered with at least 6 million fewer jobs! Wall Street is claiming record profits and continuing to give enormous bonuses; they borrow money from the government at close to zero percentage. And yet the corporatists keep claiming that Obama has been “anti business”? What a crock of crap but it works for them to keep screaming, doesn’t it?

And when was the last time something was said by either Obama and certainly the Republicans about their new “jobs program”. Unemployment is a major result of the recession and a major cause of the deficit and the loss of income through the tax base. When was the last time you heard anything regarding the enormous increase in the inequities in wealth and income that existed even before Obama took office? He quickly abandoned this subject when he was confronted by Joe the Plumber during his 2008 campaign.

What is going on in Washington is all a sham folks and it’s going on in all branches of government. It’s like the bank robbers of old who create a distraction at the end of town (like a fire) and then rob the bank in the middle of town in pure daylight. Obama and many Democrats run down to the end of the street to see what is going on with the fire. When Obama finds the fire was only a brush fire, he declares there is nothing to worry about and goes back to his office to exclaim the economy is still recovering. The continued stupidity or ignorance that exists never ceases to amaze me. It’s the biggest con job, by far, ever witnessed by mankind. The scam works so well and is so easy to keep going that it makes one wonder who Obama works for, huh? Of course, Wall Street only pays huge bonuses don’t they? So, Mr. President, Pete Seeger and I ask: Which Side Are You On?

Then with the events in Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, New Jersey, Florida, etc. involving attacks on collective bargaining and the middle class, where Obama had previously said he would “march” with those involved in collective bargaining, he essentially said he had no “shoes.” President Obama’s behaviors and actions should be sharply contrasted with those of FDR in the midst of a long depression over and over again.

Thus while the President is letting the domestic economy decay while he is “fiddling” to the business sector we also have to cope with his international affairs agenda, specifically the war economy. Instead of ending wars in Iraq and Afhanistan where 100’s of billions are spent, he has expanded the war in the latter with no end in sight. He has now decided that since he has the support of the international community he can support a war in Libya, too, even without Congressional approval. These actions are fully supported by the Corporate Class who now have desks in the White House and close access to Wall Street and the oil companies.

The FACT is that our international interventions are all about OIL and banking folks. It has been and it always will be and the claims of a humanitarian cause only apply where oil and terrorists are located and the latter always becomes the excuse. The FACT is that Jimmy Carter wisely cautioned about dependence on oil imports in 1979 and we have ignored that. Carter has been continually castigated for his international actions and even been discarded by the Democratic Party.

The FACT is that we have a stupid, dysfunctional government provided to us by a two party system both of which are controlled by a Corporatist Class system which only desires profit and greed and we have allowed that to exist and expand. And the FACT will be that if we don’t change that we have only ourselves to blame. Obama and the Democratic Party are as worthless as tits on a bull and the Republican Party are active participants in the Corporate coup.

The Tea Party showed us that commitment to street action would make a difference. Unfortunately, they didn’t have the right reasons or causes and they were corrupted by the same sources that caused the problem–the Corporatists. So let’s commit ourselves to Democracy again (a democratic republic ) and let’s do it for the right reasons, huh?

It was a beautiful, sunny Saturday in New York City. A perfect day for a peace rally but I was feeling a little sad as my usual peeps weren’t able to attend and even though I’d sent out an email to a few other friends did not get one reply but I was resolved to soldier on alone. Okay, I’m being melodramatic here. So I hopped the C train to the L and got off at Union Square and as I ascended the stairs standing before me was Ann Wright, the Colonel who stepped down from the Bush Administration due to disagreements over the invasion of Iraq. She was speaking with a gentleman but apart from that appeared to be entirely alone. I decided to stop and see if I could speak with her. (In photo L to R, Ann Wright, Coleen Rowley, Jill Dalton).

Sure enough the gentleman walked away and I was able to introduce myself and was shocked to find myself overtaken by emotion as I told her how much what she did and continues to do meant to me. How much I appreciate her bravery and courage. I told her my father was also a Colonel who fought in three wars and Vietnamhad destroyed our family. She hugged me and said, “That’s what war does, Jill, it destroys families.” I also told her I’d been writing and getting my articles published and she reinforced how important it is to continue writing and speaking out.

The rally was a call to arms to halt the illegal wars and to use military funds for public jobs, education and a rapid transition to carbon-free clean energy. Union Square was packed with peace activists and groups from all over the country and the world.

The speakers included: Howie Hawkins (Green Party) who called for closing all nuclear power plants as an environmental and financial threat, starting with immediate closure of Indian Point. Cindy (spitfire) Sheehan reaffirmed we all know these wars are b.s. and a vote for a Democrat of a Republican is a vote for more war, more economic repression, and continued devastation of the environment. U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark spoke. Ann Wright spoke against the wars and the rape of U.S. female soldiers by our own troops and it needs to stop. Charles Barron (Freedom Party) reaffirmed we are here in the spirit of Martin Luther King and if Obama thinks he’s getting the black vote by sucking up to the likes of Al Sharpton he is sadly mistaken. Muslims for Peace were there to stand against Islamophobia. Omar Barghouti, Palentinian Advocate of Israel boycott was able to speak after the U.S. backed down and issued him a visa.

The speeches were short, succinct, passionate and to the point. End these illegal wars, bring our troops home, no nuclear power, human rights, stand up and speak truth to power. I felt a renewed sense of hope and purpose and it reinforced to me we must all do what we can to keep fighting the good fight.

We can no longer sit back and complain or blame Obama and the Democrats for our predicament. We must take responsibility and be the change we wish to see in the world. Change begins within. We have allowed this corporate takeover to happen. We have been asleep and now like Sleeping Beauty we must awaken. We can stop these wars but only through peace. Attend rallies, make calls, write, speak out. Whatever you can do, do. No more excuses. Everything helps. Everyone matters. We are one.

On Monday, we had the announcement that the President had filed for reelection in 2012. That should come as no surprise but he emphasized earlier that this was not to be his primary goal. Of course, any politician’s “promises” are to be taken with a grain of salt. Obama, however, promised there would be “change we could believe in.” His two year term thus far has clearly illustrated that, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” There are millions of people expressing buyer’s remorse as Tracy said (click on the photo): “We were enamored. We thought Obama was a champion of the middle class. A fighter for the average American. We bought the dream, only to awaken to the nightmare that he had morphed into Professor Friendly, defender of the upper crust. Thanks for the crumbs. We want our money back!”

A recent article on this topic and only a portion of what I discuss here has recently appeared, entitled: President Obama’s Five Broken Campaign Promises. Maybe Obama’s motto for 2012 should be: ”If you like what you’ve got, we’ve got much more for you!” I was a strong supporter of the President in 2008; I don’t like much of anything he has DONE and I believe his performance has been poor. I’ve learned to distinguish between what he SAYS and what he DOES. It is not my objective to comment on his leadership traits here, which has been one of my professional specialties for 30 years, but rather his performance in important policy matters.

For example:

—In December 2010, he capitulated totally to a “deal” with Republican Senator McConnell and Representative Boehner to cut taxes for the rich and, in the process, cutting Senators Reid and Speaker Pelosi out of the negotiations. He “compromised” and claimed that he had been held “hostage” by the Republicans in return for unemployment insurance. He further offered them a 2% cut in payroll taxes, exclaiming he given big tax cuts for everyone. Of course, that was just a “Trojan Horse” for Republicans to use to complain about social security deficits later. I first wrote a blog about this disastrous negotiation in December, reposted last month.

—He failed to support a strong healthcare reform bill which had a public option and did anything to cut costs. The net result was a blank check for the insurance companies to raise rates and further prove that the reform bill was defective. And then the test for a mandate continues in the courts.

—He failed to support a strong Wall Street reform bill which addressed the basic problems of bank reform including too big too fail. Big banks are now larger and more profitable than ever and giving huge bonuses to reward their executives. He has not formally appointed Elizabeth Warren, the champion for consumers, to a position of authority in representing consumer protection reforms.

—He appeased the Chamber of Commerce who had spent 10’s of millions of dollars against him in the 2010 elections, appointed their representatives to key White House positions and apologized for not being more friendly to business. The FACT is that Wall Street and the Corporations have made out like bandits in the recovery since the financial collapse. The incredibly corrupting influence of big business money in the Obama administration is documented in this 10 minute video clip.

—He has refused to support the anti-union efforts by Governors in the states of Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, etc.(after promising to march with workers) when these Governors have attempted to destroy collective bargaining in their states.

—He has failed to build the Democratic Party by directing the DNC chairman to go on the attack and support Democratic principles in the states. The DNC chairman, Tim Kaine has been rendered ineffective and impotent. By his own description, he and the Democratic Party were “shellaced” in the 2010 elections. the Democratic Party has proved to be a bunch of incompetent wimps to oppose the Republican Fascists.

—He appointed Jeffrey Immelt, the Chairman of GE, to be his “jobs” advisor and GE paid no corporate income tax in 2009 and has built their profits in foreign business, especially China. Nice role model for a “Jobs Advisor”, huh? He further appointed Bill Daley as Chief of Staff and Gene Spelling as economic advisor. Both have strong contacts and have worked for Wall Street and the Corporatists and that occurred even though Obama promised to end the revolving door. His Director of OMB fled to Citibank to be paid multimillions there.

—He has expanded the war in Afghanistan spending nearly 3 billion dollars a week and started a new war in Libya without even properly consulting with Congress. He promised to close GITMO and end torture. Instead he has not only decided to keep GITMO open, but to try terrorists there with a military tribunal. There have been many reports of Sgt. Manning, an American citizen, being tortured there worse than a prisoner of war.

—He, along with his Secretary of the Interior Ken Salizaar, has approved new deepwater oil drilling leases in the Gulf of Mexico under pressure from the oil industry. This has occurred after the worst environmental disaster in the U.S., the BP Horizon accident, and even after it has been proven that the blowout preventors have a permanent design problem and are defective. Companies are using disaster plans developed nearly a near before the accident! Salizar should have been fired after the BP disaster.

—Even after the incredible nuclear disaster in Japan, he has renewed his support for nuclear fission energy.

—He just appointed Jim Messina to be his campaign manager and to manage his one billion dollar campaign. One of Messina’s main roles will presumably be to keep “progressives” away from the White House. In 2009, Messina had been directed to threaten the Campaign for Americas Future (CAF) to discontinue their efforts to influence “Blue Dogs” in providing support for Obama policies. Messina had also served as an advisor to Senator Baucas who was one of the main supporters of the health insurance industry to insure we did not have a public option in the healthcare bill. Here is a quote from a NYT reporter over a year ago in Huffington Post: “This should be big news. Even while President Obama was saying that he thought a public option was a good idea and encouraging supporters to believe his healthcare plan would include one, he had promised for-profit hospital lobbyists that there would be no public option in the final bill.”

—And NOTHING has been said about the massive transfer of wealth and income that has been going on to the upper 1% during the past two years, added to that in the past thirty years. This is the ultimate cancer in our society which will literally kill millions and destroy our Republic. Obama has been totally silent on that issue as the Corporatist society would have it. The entire discussion about “Jobs” (the real job picture is here) and deficit reduction is total garbage and the public is expected to believe these lies. Here is a map of how the fascist Governors are coping with their unemployment (“Jobs”) issue without even a whimper from Obama or the Democratic Party.

Thus, when I received an email letter on Monday, April 4 to support his reelection, I wrote:

“To: info@barackobama.com Date: Monday, April 4, 2011, 1:25 PM

FYI. I am not going to support President Obama nor support the Democratic Party any longer. Obama is a “DINO” (a Democrat In Name Only) and he does not support the principles or policies of even the national Democratic Party. I will work for the creation of a third political party who does represent most of these principles and is willing to fight for them. The Republican Party is a fascist party and Obama has been complicit or even enabled these Corporatists. He does not represent me.”

The President has shown that he likes to work from a check list of “things to do.” But quality doesn’t matter as long as the schedule is met. We are yet to experience his efforts at fighting for the budget cuts proposed by the fascist Republicans and their Tea Party compatriots sponsored by billionaires. In contrast to FDR in his fourth year of the Great Depression, Obama has shown every willingness to cave in to anything to maintain “peace” and avoid conflict. Some have compared his “negotiation” skills with those of Neville Camberlain in negotiating with the Nazi Third Reich.

This campaign announcement is a strong effort on the part of Obama’s campaign committee to get people to commit to his reelection 18 months before the election. This is a strategy to get liberal Democrats and progressives to “back off” from making any demands. The FACT is that YOUR donations will be so trivial compared to those from corporations that it clearly rates as Chump Change. (click on picture)

The President and his campaign advisors, especially Messina, have decided that their best chances for reelection rest with persuading an amorphous mass of “independents” to vote for him and who have no strong views on anything! The attitude is: let’s get those suckers on board.

This is the essence of the “DINO”, Democrat in Name Only, campaign. They realize that they can amass huge amounts of campaign money from corporations and it won’t matter what others do. They understand that is what the Republican Fascists are going to do with the support of their billionaire friends like the Koch Bros. and Murdoch. So their strategy is to abandon all principles and go for the money. The only thing that matters is having the money to run for reelection! And to hell with the Supreme Court’s Citizen’s United decision that gave corporations unlimited ability to contribute to campaigns; let’s use that decision and “win.”

What is happening to us is a complete Fascist movement driven by the Corporatists acting on both political parties described by Jill Dalton and myself in several blogs. It is very sad to see my Democratic friends totally unaware of what has been going on,and totally oblivious to this manipulation of content and substance to remain in denial. They apparently reason they have no other choice. I am sorry to have to express these thoughts and share them with you. But I strongly believe that the future of our Republic depends upon our being honest and candid with one another. The present political system does not do that. It is only interested in power and money which is a totally corrupt and basically immoral system; it is not interested in solving problems with a rational and morally just foundation.

The FACT is that the Corporate Fascists—the Corporatists control every aspect of our government with their billions of dollars. Both political parties are partipating in this, even though the strongest thrust is with the Republican Fascists. This MUST be changed and this may be our last chance to try to do that. In the 1930’s the Germans looked the other way with the rise of the Third Reich. There is always risk in making change but we cannot rely on this two party system to act on our behalves. WE CANNOT SUPPORT THIS APPROACH TO SOLVING OUR PROBLEMS OR WE CAN BE ALMOST CERTAIN WHAT THE OUTCOME WILL BE!

In November 2010, numerous Republican Governors were added to the mix of existing Governors Christie of NJ, Governor McDonald of VA, and Governor Brewer of AZ. Specifically, thanks to the “excellent” work of Governor Barbour of MS at the Republican Governor’s Association and with the generous contributions of right wing media billionaire mogul Rupert Murdoch, millions of dollars elected numerous new Republican Governors.

Some of the new Republican Governors include: Governor Walker of Wisconsin, Governor Snyder of Michigan, Governor Kusich of Ohio, Governor Scott of Florida, and Governor LePage of Maine. The recipe for their “stew mixture” was basically the same. Immediately these new Governors went into office collectively to: 1) Dramatically “cut” their budgets due to projected deficits, 2) Attack collective bargaining, especially for public employees and destroy their rights, 3) Cut taxes for businesses in their states, 4) Cut social programs including Medicaid, unemployment benefits, programs for children, and programs for the disadvantaged, 5) Reduce public education funding and provide “opportunities” for private education, 6) increase property taxes, 7) Sell off public assets including prisons and utilities and have them run by corporations, and 8) Make it more difficult for immigrants and miniorites to vote. Here is a map of how these fascist Governors are coping with their unemployment problems (“Jobs”).

It is imminently clear that they went into office with an authoritarian, almost dictatorial ambition to assume total control of every aspect of state government, turn all operations over to the private corporate sector and show everyone who is “boss”. They were going to be “tough” and make sure that businesses and the wealthy in their states would “create jobs.” This great recession was created, of course, by a total melt down by the gambling recklessness of Wall Street coupled with the enormous decreases in housing prices. This was a great opportunity to reward the criminals who had financed their elections.

Very good reporting, including this superb article by Jane Mayer of the New Yorker as early as August 2010 and during the course of the election, also showed clearly that these Governors were financed by big money, including some billionaires like the Koch Bros. and Rupert Murdoch at News Corp (i.e. Fox). These billionaires are not new to politics but were given free reign especially with the Citizen’s United decision of the Supreme Court, which opened the flood gates for coporate financing of elections. They are all known to be Coporatists–corporate fascists, a term used first in Europe early in the last century. It defines a condition where the corporations gain full control over the government and control every aspect of the people. My colleague, Jill Dalton, has written an excellent blog to elaborate on this subject entitled “Just Call me Paul Revere“, and a second article entitled, Is It Fascism Yet? which can be accessed on this site.

Mussolini defined it well in the 1920′s in Italy: “Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power.” Hitler, in 1933, then built on that concept. On May 2nd, 1933, the day afterLabor Day,Adolf Hitleroutlawed trade unions along with collective bargaining and the right to strike. Nazi groups raided union halls and labor leaders were arrested. For another excellent presentation of what it means to be a Fascist, please see this by Kingsbury at the Mimir Report. The Corporatists attempt to eliminate public employment, and sell off public properties and services in the name of ”privatization”. That is exactly what they have been trying to do with social security; it represents an incredible potential for big profits in Wall Street and big banks. Basically, they will do everything possible to eliminate all social functions of government; they emphasize and maintain “defense” industries over which they also have full control. Also, having “internal” enemies like Muslims, Mexicans, Blacks, Homosexuals, etc. helps. The result is a dictatorial, fascist, militarist government which achieves total control over the population. Does anyone see these behaviors and attempts by the Republican Party in Washington and the states today?

Just who are the Governors involved in these clandestine affairs? The best known one, of course, is Scott Walker of Wisconsin. He was the first to be clearly indentified because he stupidly took a prank telephone call from Ian Murphy (recorded at his post, the Koch Whore at the Buffalo Beast.) Walker thought he was discussing his “progress” with someone who was his corporate master, David Koch. In that call, Walker revealed: 1. He was to be the first “domino” case (for Mr. Koch) to be an example for the nation for their new government order, 2. He was going to abolish the power of the unions in Wisconsin, starting with public employees, 3. He was going to sell off public assets including utilities to the private sector and the corporations and give big tax breaks to the corporations. He was, after all, to be a champion for the “free market” system and reduce “government spending.” This, along with big tax cuts for corporations, was what he actually proposed to the Republican legislature in Wisconsin. But Walker had also “spilled the beans” from his evil stew mixture oozing with Teabaggers and state and national Republican National Committee people (like Haley the “Chief” Barbour!)

Walker went on to reveal that he had daily telephone calls with Governor Kusich in Ohio, and was in touch with Governor Sandoval in Nevada, Governor Snyder in Michigan and Governor Scott in Florida. He also said that “this is our moment” and that it would occur with “other governors that got elected to do something big.” So it is quite natural that we are seeing these same policies being practiced in these states, isn’t it?

Reportedly, Snyder in Michigan has proposed bills in his legislature to drastically cut funds for education (K-12 and higher education) and eliminate earned income tax credits for the working poor. Then, this is the big one: establish a system of Emergency Fund Managers (EMF’s) (appointed by him) to completely take over city and school districts and replace them with a “corporate” entity with dictatorial powers to end contracts. This would include teachers, firemen and policemen and city employees. POSTSCRIPT ADDED 4/20: In last night’s Rachel Maddow program, Rachel showed how far Synder had gone. He is in the process of establishing a totalitarian state that even denies residents the rights of cities to elect their local officials and he wants to seize property donated to them as public property. This man is obviously trying to become a “candidate” for the American Nazi Party; he has no limits in his delusions for power.

To give a simple report on the plans and intent of Governor Scott of Florida perhaps the best description is from a report in February from Time.com:“Shortly before Governor Rick Scott was sworn in in January, a report showed that Florida had the U.S.’s leanest state workforce — 117 employees per 10,000 residents, compared with a national average of 215. That reality seemed to challenge the urgency of Scott’s campaign promise to cut 5% of that workforce as part of his crusade to significantly reduce government spending. Still, a pledge is a pledge, especially when your Republican base is angry, antigovernment Tea Party voters who helped you squeak through to victory in November.

So last week, Scott — speaking not from the state capital, Tallahassee, but from the Tea Party hotbed of Eustis, Fla., to show his disdain for all things public sector — delivered a budget proposal that slashes $4.6 billion (7% of current spending) and pink-slips 8,700 state employees, while gutting aid for disability services and juvenile justice.“Reviewing a government budget is much like going through the attic in an old home,” said Scott, a health care industry multimillionaire who resigned in disgrace as CEO of the world’s largest hospital corporation in 1997, when it was accused of massive Medicare fraud (though he never was).”

In Ohio, their fascist Governor Kasich, in the pretense of budget cuts, has proposed that 230 million dollars in liquor revenue from state owned stores be handed over to his corporatist friends, claiming, as do these other governors that the “state is broke”. Kasich just signed a bill to strip collective bargaining from all public employees in the state! In New Jersey, Governor Christie is giving away at least 200 million dollars to corporations. In Arizona, Governor Brewer is giving at least 250 million dollars in tax breaks to corporations. She has also made a strong effort to “privatize” all the state prisons. As people are beginning to understand this evil plot that these fascists have in mind, they are beginning to facing stiff opposition and voters are expressing buyers remorse. But it should be noted in all of these states the people, especially the workers, are strongly protesting and rebelling. Wisconsin is “leading” the way and suits were filed on March 18 to contest Governor Walker’s violations of the Open Meetings Act. Demonstrations are occurring in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Florida with other states to follow. Jon Stewart of the Daily Show gives a good summary of the “comedic, idiotic” actions of the Fascists.

It should be noted that all states are dealing with fiscal crises because of the “great recession” and many are attempting to deal with it practically. Some are not giving away large amounts of money to corporations and the rich in the name of ”reducing their budgets.” But what’s the status of this all out war by the Republican Governor Fascists? Well fortunately these mass protests of people occurring in many of these states with Wisconsin are a model for us. The opponents of Walker have also begun to file suit and recall petitions are circulating; it will obviously continue.

Where is the President and the national Democratic Party (DNC)? They are simply as described in: President Obama: MIA. There should no longer be a pretense that Obama and the Democratic Party, except in these individual states, really gives a damn about the middle class, working Americans and even the poor. They are either negligent and incompetent, or possibly complicit, in this surrender to the Corporatists. It is time to watch what they DO and not what they SAY! Since the President and his Democratic advisors seem to have forgotten what the Party has stood for, I provide them with some simple history from FDR: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nuElu-ipTQ&NR=1

Since the 2010 election, Obama, in his efforts to attract the “independents,” has become as Republican as any other major leader in the Republican Party. He has reneged on his position on tax cuts for the rich (Senator McConnell said he got 75% of what he wanted), supporting workers rights in collective bargaining (Obama said he would march with them), ending absurd wars, and even advocacy of a clean energy environment. He doesn’t represent ME and most of my friends; he doesn’t even represent the Democratic Party principles. Obama needs to learn from this song by Tennessee Ernie Ford, 16 Tons, about selling his soul to the company store. And he has left us without leadership to fight this evil effort by the Corporatists to create a fascist nation. And the Democratic Party needs to listen to this song by Pete Seeger who gave us a perspective on this issue many years ago: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iAIM02kv0g&feature=related The DNC in particular needs to be reminded and they are, after all, under the direction and control of President Obama the leader of the Democratic Party.

My hero of the last century (I am a physicist, too) was Albert Einstein. He defined Insanity as: “Continuing to do the same thing again and again and expecting to get different results.” That’s exactly what keeps happening to us in the political sector. We must simply change that and mobilize new leadership among those who consider themselves Democrats or progressive independents. We have many leaders and millions of people on a national scene who will buy that concept. This “fascist stew” not only tastes really bad but it smells like crap. As Jill said in her blog, “The Corporatists are Coming.” The two party system is totally morally corrupt; the Republican Party has become the core of the fascist movement in the U.S. and the Democratic Party is totally inept, incompetent and impotent to cope with this effect. The consequence of not doing something to form a third political movement will permanently damage our Republic. I leave you with these songs: